boat hire in Vilagarcía de Arousa · Beneteau — Oceanis Clipper 473 (2025)

Highly versatile in its deck design and interior layout, the Oceanis 473 was one of Beneteau's flagships between 2001 and 2008. This Finot-Conq design combines the level of comfort and good performance sought by private owners with the tough demands of the charter business. The Oceanis 473, designed by Finot-Conq, was introduced to the public in 2001, replacing the Oceanis 461, a Farr design also introduced in 1996. The OC-473 remained in Béneteau's catalog until 2008, when it was replaced by the Océanis 46, designed by Berret/Racoupeau. Three highly regarded architects for three generations of Océanis in this important 13-14 meter boat segment, where the models compete simultaneously in the demanding owner's boat segment and also in the tough charter market. The Finot-Conq team, an undisputed benchmark for open-sail designs for ocean racing at the beginning of the 21st century, was responsible for the Océanis 473 project. The new model was striking with its large hull volume, a high and powerful bow, a modern bulbous "L" keel, and an imposing beam that practically extended to the transom. From first glance, this sailboat is instantly recognizable. Its aesthetic is timeless, adopting an attractive double flush-deck that extends from just aft of the masthead, rising slightly above the saloon. The OC-473's substantial freeboard thus concealed its massive silhouette while providing a good headroom. The OC-473's rig is masthead with angled spreaders and a baby stay, with a fairly balanced sail distribution between the genoa and the mainsail. The 473's substantial 150% genoa surface area was never a favorite with charter companies, who saw how careless clients easily distorted the sail. It's not a very subtle rig with trim levels, but it's solid and easy to handle thanks to the complete and well-arranged hardware supplied as standard. The masthead maneuvering of the 473 is entirely redirected to the cockpit, where it's handled by a battery of Spinlock XT cleats and a pair of Lewmar 40ST winches above the cockpit. The mainsheet bar, a modest length, is also above the cockpit, and the genoa winches (two Lewmar 56 or 54ST) are located on the coamings, allowing them to be operated by the helmsman or by the crew from the benches. The helmsman steers with a double wheel, and his seat on the sides always has the backstay in a crow's-foot position, which makes it difficult to rest his back on the aft balcony. Visibility forward and support points during heeling are adequate. A retractable center bench seat opens onto a stern platform that, in its day, seemed unbeatable. Nowadays, accustomed to the immense folding skirts found on all sailboats, the generous size of the OC-473's platform is questionable. Performance at its best The Océanis 473 boasts good performance across the entire wind range, starting with light gusts of around 5 or 6 knots. Its stiffness when heeling is also notable, especially in the 2.10 m draft version. Close-hauled in about 25 knots of wind with a reef in the mainsail and two-thirds of the genoa deployed, the boat holds its course effortlessly at 7.2/7.6 knots, with the cockpit dry and the crew enjoying the scenery seated on the comfortable cockpit benches (cheers to the support bar for the jibs). The deep, well-laid bow, as well as a certain "U" shape in the bow of the hull, guarantee smooth passage through the wave. On tight courses, the wheel balance remains fairly neutral, as is typical of Finot-Conq designs, but it's best not to over-tap to avoid losing the power of this large-displacement hull. Opening the sheets at these 20/25 knots, the OC-473's speed rises to a good 8.5 knots on the beam, reaching 9.5/10 knots on the beam. By unfurling the genoa fully with this quarterwind, the speed remains constant in the double digits, and although the helmsman may need to be more attentive, the feeling of easy speed dominates the program. The cockpit of the Océanis is comfortable both at anchor and underway. The curve from bow to stern is comfortable, the helmsman's seat is comfortable, and the six (or even eight) crew members the boat accommodates will feel at ease maneuvering or sitting on the benches. The Oceanis 473 belongs to a generation of sailboats that did not yet consider large exterior tables—with a refrigerator and dish rack—to be mandatory. On the OC-473, the exterior table is made of luxurious varnished mahogany wood and is foldable and easily removable (carrying bag included), leaving only a visible stainless steel tubular structure that serves as both a handrail and a footrest when heeled over. A very practical solution. Spacious interiors Inside, the 473 offers versions for all cruising needs, with two, three, or four enormous double cabins and two bathrooms. Regardless of the version, the central saloon is very spacious (3.55 x 3.92 m), distinguished—depending on the version—by the L-shaped galley next to the entrance or along the side of the saloon. The navigator's area (which changes sides depending on the galley version) is reminiscent of the past, with a bow-facing seat, drawers, shelves, and lockers for small items, ample space for displaying charts, a beveled panel for mounting electronics, and a practical front panel that can be used both for mounting small instruments and as a glove compartment. Assuming that chart tables are gradually losing their purpose in the interiors of modern sailboats, this navigator's area can always be converted into the owner's "office," an increasingly sought-after feature on sailboats of this length. In terms of construction, the OC-473 took another step forward in Beneteau's ongoing process of turning its counter-molds into virtually integral pieces from floor to ceiling. On the OC-473, the counter-mold not only reinforces the hull, but also discreetly supports the bulkheads and much of the furnishings, holding everything together using various types of adhesives. It's a construction system well-suited to large-scale production runs, solid and durable, and one that Beneteau has mastered perfectly. 5-hour option - €500 Deposits: Bareboat charter: €5,000 Daily charter with skipper: €500 Bareboat charter, minimum four days.